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PBS gives more drugs choice than NZ: govt

Federal Health Minister Tanya Plibersek has defended the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme as providing choice to Australian consumers, after a think tank said the government could save $1.3 billion a year by being tougher on drug companies.

In its report, Australia's Bad Drug Deal, the Grattan Institute said Australia had been too "timid" with drug companies, and should be demanding a better price for generic medicines through a new pharmaceutical agency.

Comparing Australia to New Zealand, which has an independent Pharmaceutical Management Agency, it found Australia's wholesale drug prices were, on average, six times higher, and in some cases 20 times more costly.

If the federal Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) adopted NZ prices for 62 drugs, it would save $1.1 billion, while an extra $590 million would be saved if substitutions were made for all 73 drugs in its study.

The Grattan Institute said $1.3 billion could be saved each year if the federal government simply demanded a better price for generics, or off-patent medicines.

But Ms Plibersek dismissed comparisons with New Zealand, saying its tender process lead to far fewer drugs being available to consumers.

"That means if that brand suits you, that's fine, but if it doesn't suit you because you might be allergic to a component that makes up that medicine then you miss out," Ms Plibersek told reporters in Canberra.

"And from our perspective it is much better to have a number of suppliers of medicines rather than just striking with one supplier, because if that company has a problem, if their supply chain is broken for some reason, then you can experience medicine shortages."

Ms Plibersek denied the government wasn't being tough enough in its negotiations with drug companies.

Seizing on the Grattan Institute report, the Consumers Health Forum of Australia said money saved each year could pay for access to "a broader range of drugs that people need".

"The report highlights the need for urgent and fundamental change in the lucrative price arrangements the government makes with pharmaceutical companies," the forum's Carol Bennett said.

The head of industry body Medicines Australia, Brendan Shaw, rubbished the Grattan Institute report, saying, "If you want a how-to-guide for turning your health system into that of a third-world country, this report would be it".

"New Zealand is stone motherless last in the OECD access to medicines rankings," Dr Shaw said.

"So much so that when New Zealanders can't access a variety of new medicines in their country they come over here."